Have your say

Consultation assured

The article Parents protest bus loop (Oct. 19) fails to properly report the existing reality. First, when plans of the proposed University of Winnipeg field house were put forward, student representatives were assured that proper consultation with the daycare and other stakeholders would take place.

It was under those conditions that any proposed model for relocation of the bus loop was approved. It is our understanding from discussions with City of Winnipeg public works and Winnipeg Transit that the university administration was responsible for a transparent consultation process, which did not effectively happen.

Furthermore, it is apparent that the University of Winnipeg administration did not make Coun. Harvey Smith aware of all the specifics of the issue either. After factual and scientific data were provided to the councillor by parents and daycare management committee members, Smith has changed his position.

In a statement to the U of W Students Association, the councillor now declares his support for the relocation of the bus loop and has asked to be kept informed "so (he) can support the parents. The safety of the children must be a priority."

ANDRÉE FOREST

University of Winnipeg Students Association

Gross misrepresentation

On the evening of Oct. 20, I attended an event where Monique Lepine was the guest speaker. Lepine was grossly misrepresented in a column by Lindor Reynolds ('Bad parent? No... an imperfect one,' Oct. 20) as somewhat callous and out of touch with reality.

This could not be further from the truth. Such biased journalism does not reflect well on Reynolds' professional reputation.

RICK HILL

Winnipeg

Childish debate

Re: MP heading to Ukraine under cloud (Oct. 20). I think the opposition parties in the House of Commons are being childish in debating whether or not MP Ted Opitz should be part of the Canadian mission to monitor the Oct. 28 parliamentary elections in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has expressed deep concern as to how free and fair those elections will be; nevertheless I commend the Government of Canada for its commitment to the observer process and determination to help ensure that the elections be as free, fair and transparent as possible.

One of the processes the election observation mission will be monitoring is the coverage by media of elections; concerns are being raised about ongoing restrictions on media freedom, harassment of journalists and a general lack of pluralism.

The bickering about who should go or not go is irrelevant at this point. The outcome will be a number of MPs from all parties and a large contingent of Canadians who are of Ukrainian heritage. Politically, in my opinion, this is the right road to take in the selection process, in order to see that these elections are closely watched by Canadians so that repression and potential unrest will not isolate Ukraine even further from Canada and the European Union.

PETER MANASTYRSKY

Winnipeg

Seconding that vote

Re: In response to Gary Hook's Oct. 17 letter, Military appreciation, I say bravo! If Sam Katz wants to show appreciation to the military, he should show up to a Remembrance Day ceremony.

Last year when he was a no-show and stated that he did not have to explain why, he lost my future vote.

KATHY LABOSSIERE

Winnipeg

Belated good wishes

Your Oct. 22 editorial Happy birthdays lists a number of cultural organizations that celebrate significant anniversaries in 2012. They all deserve warmest congratulations for the contributions they make to our city. While I understand that no such list can cover every organization, I was surprised that the 40th anniversary of Manitoba Opera was not included.

The year 1972 was doubly significant for Winnipeg, with both the opera and the Winnipeg Jets making their debuts. The joint 20th anniversary year in 1992 was celebrated with Tracy Dahl singing the national anthem at a game, almost lifting the roof off the old arena.

JEANIE DUBBERLEY

Winnipeg

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The Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir is celebrating its 90th anniversary, a milestone worth commemorating.

PAUL WIEBE

Winnipeg

Auditing cleanliness

In his Oct. 19 letter, Looking for germs, Dr. Norman Silver said that because he cleans his hands only after he's entered a patient's room and closed the door -- and so is not visible to the auditor -- he is recorded as not having cleaned his hands. In other words, he believes he would have achieved a zero per cent compliance rating when he in fact cleans his hands 100 per cent of the time.

In fact, because the auditor wouldn't see whether Silver does or doesn't clean his hands before he encounters his patients, he would not have been included in the audit at all. The auditor records only hand hygiene (handwashing or using hand sanitizer) opportunities -- realized or missed -- that are witnessed.

BRENDA DYCK

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

Ulterior motives

In his Oct. 22 letter, Dubious automation, Rickey Keep seems to have missed the whole purpose of the city's new automated garbage system, which is to introduce a user-pay system. If you can't fit your trash into the modest-sized container provided, then you must pay extra, and that is what they are counting on.

The automated system actually takes longer than the old way since the new hydraulic lifts that empty your wheelie bin are quite slow. I would venture a guess that the recycle truck is at least 30 per cent slower during pickup in my back lane. Automation shouldn't slow things down unless there are other motives at play, and that is user-pay. Citizens, beware, you will pay more for garbage pickup in the future. Apparently some of the highest property-based taxes in the country are not enough for city hall.

GERALD HYNES

Winnipeg

Put skates on 'em

Re: $16 million-doctors in Manitoba (Oct. 13). I'm just wondering if these doctors worked eight months of the year and wore uniforms and skates, if they would be worth, say, $4 million to $8 million a year?

LARRY BAZYLEWSKI

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 23, 2012 $sourceSection0